12.0 The (uncircumcised) Gentiles hear the Gospel of Christ

In Acts 10, the sequence of events are reversed from the
norm: in this chapter, the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the
gentiles first, then they were baptized. Unfortunately, as
applied in most modern doctrine, this has led to many false
conclusions about the timing and manner of salvation.
Biblically speaking, however, there really is a reason for the
reversal of these events, and will be discussed at more length in
section 13.

Thus far, salvation has been only for the original disciples of
Jesus Christ (Acts 1: Day of Pentecost, etc.), then the rest
of the Jews (Acts 2), then to the Samaritans (Acts 8),
and finally to an Ethiopian eunuch spoken of in Acts 8.
This eunuch was either a diaspora Jew in the service of the queen
of Ethiopia, or he was a proselyte (a convert) to Judaism.
Finally, Paul was "saved" in Acts 9. All of
these people and groups of people mentioned thus far (as of
Acts 9) are circumcised. Up to this point, preaching
the word of Jesus Christ to the uncircumcised was simply
unthinkable! Evidence of this can be seen in a statement
made by Peter:

ACTS 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it
is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company,
or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me
that I should not call any man common or unclean.

So even the Twelve had to be convinced of God's salvation for
the gentiles by none less than God Himself.

ACTS 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called
Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian
band,ACTS 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God
with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and
prayed to God alway.ACTS 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth
hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying
unto him, Cornelius.ACTS 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and
said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and
thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.ACTS 10:5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter:ACTS 10:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose
house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou
oughtest to do.

The Greek word for "oughtest" in Acts 10:6 is
the exact same Greek word as "must" in
Acts 9:6:

ACTS 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto
him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee
what thou must do.

So in either case (Acts 9:6 or Acts 10:6), the word
"must" would be the better word to use (in modern
English). As in,

ACTS 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto
him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee
what thou MUST do.

or, keeping closer to this particular message:

ACTS 10:5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter:ACTS 10:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose
house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou
[MUST] to do.

After all, since 1611, when the Bible was translated into
English (as the "King James Version"), English has
changed somewhat.

At Acts 10:1-6 (above), the angel told Cornelius to send
men to bring the Apostle Peter to him, so that he could be told
what he "must" do. The entire discourse and
sequence of events is recorded at Acts 10. Only the
important points to this topic (baptism in water) will be
listed:

ACTS 10:36 The word which God sent unto the
children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:
(he is Lord of all:)
...ACTS 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the
people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God
to be the Judge of quick and dead. ACTS 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that
through his name whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins. ACTS 10:44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words,
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word. ACTS 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on
the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost. ACTS 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God. Then answered Peter, ACTS 10:47Can any man forbid water, that these
should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we? ACTS 10:48And he COMMANDED them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry
certain days.

12.1.1Gentiles (non-Jews) are
required to believe, and to be baptized in water. Peter
(with six others) was sent to Cornelius' house, to tell them what
they "must" do (section 12.0). Peter told them
that "whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) shall
receive remission of sins," at Acts 10:43. In
addition, Peter COMMANDED them to be
baptized! This is consistant with the pattern we've
seen earlier in Acts: that men must 1) believe, and
2) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
(cf. Acts 2:38). If you will recall, Jesus said:

MARK 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

By reviewing Acts 10:43,48, we see a word-for-word
fulfillment of Christ's commandment.

12.1.2Gentiles (non-Jews) are to be
baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ." Per
Acts 10:48, they were baptized "in the name of the
Lord." The only Lord mentioned was "Jesus
Christ":

ACTS 10:36 The word which God sent unto the
children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:
(he is Lord of all:)ACTS 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that
through his name whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins.ACTS 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry
certain days.

The name of "Jesus Christ" is reiterated in verse
43. Cornelius, his kinsmen and near friends (Acts 10:24)
were baptized, saying, in the name of "Jesus
Christ!" (We have already seen in section 6 that there is no precedent
whatsoever of anybody ever having been baptized, saying, "In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost," and that that phrase is never used anywhere in the
book of Acts.)

12.1.3Baptism in the name of Jesus
Christ is a commandment that must be obeyed. Even
though these people were already filled with the Holy
Ghost (Acts 10:44-45), the Apostle Peter nonetheless
COMMANDED them to be water baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:48). "Jesus Christ"
is the only Lord mentioned (Acts 10:36). This is a
profound statement regarding the importance of water
baptism! (It is imperative!)

12.1.4Baptism is not for the
purposes of "identification with," nor is it an
"outward sign of an inward change." How do we
know this? At Acts 10:44-45, the Holy Ghost was poured
out upon these people—unmistakably "identifying"
them with Jesus Christ. This was already done before they
were baptized in water! In fact, this is precisely the
reason why Peter commanded them to be baptized in water
(Acts 10:47).

The purpose of this reversal of events (i.e., first being
filled with the Holy Ghost, then being baptized in water) will be
discussed at more length in section 13.

12.2 Finally, the rest of the earth!

In the book of Acts thus far (chapters 1 through 10), we have
seen an ever–expanding circle of inclusion of who could be
saved. Salvation began with only the Jews (and Jewish
proselytes)—all previously faithful to God through the Law
of Moses, (cf. Luke 24:47/Acts 2:38). This circle
then expanded to include the Samaritans—the descendants of
Jews who intermarried with the "heathen nations" around
them, but who were at least part Jewish, circumcised, and in the
Land of Israel (Acts 8:5-25). Next, salvation included
those faithful to God in the diaspora (i.e., outside the Land of
Israel), namely, the eunuch of Acts 8:26-39. Finally,
salvation was offered to everyone else (i.e., the uncircumcised
nations) beginning with Cornelius!

As this circle of inclusion was extended to each of these new
groups of people, the precedent of
water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is specifically written
in the Holy scriptures, every time.